The 4 Best Tips for Pediatric Injections

S𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬. 💉 The dreadful word nurses and parents try not to say to our little ones. As a nurse, getting ready to give a shot consists of being prepared prior to entering the room, gathering rewards, and bringing in some backup! Am I right!? (never trust a 5 year old who says he won’t move 🤨😂) But it doesn’t have to be such an awful experience! 

I’ve gathered some helpful tips on how to make pediatric injections less traumatic while still promoting safety and trust. 

𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮💉
To most children the idea of an injection is the scariest part of a doctors visit. Many of them walk through the door trying to bargain their way out of a potential shot. Providing the child with an age- appropriate explanation as to why they are receiving the shot is key. Younger children can believe the reason they are getting a shot is because they’ve been bad and are being punished. Explaining that the medication will actually make them feel better and keep them healthy is very important.

𝟐. 𝐁𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭💉
As they say, honesty is the best policy. There is a misconception that what someone doesn’t know, won’t hurt them. Oh, but it will and with that, you will also lose their trust. If asked, it’s okay to say that the shot will hurt for a quick moment and then it will be over. I usually say “it’s like a quick little mosquito bite!” Honesty will promote trust later on when you tell them something doesn’t hurt. 

𝟑. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭💉
Allow the child to hold something that makes them feel safe and provides comfort such as a doll or even their parents hand. Stepping it up for younger kids, have their parents hug them while you give the shot (this is totally do-able depending on the position of the patient. 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨? 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬!) 

𝟒. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 & 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝💉
Once the shot is over, let the patient know that you are all done. Praise the child for doing such a great job and reward his good behavior. Applying a bandaid will also calm some pts.

✨NEVER give medication in the play room.They need to know there are places where they can feel completely safe.